About the Author

Stephen Michael King has always drawn pictures. At primary school
he was a misfit - quiet, solitary, escaping into the world of his
imagination, isolated by a hearing problem that went undiagnosed
for many years. Now he has found his place as a popular
picture-book illustrator, with books translated into many
languages.

Reviews

Featuring a small gaggle of eccentric characters, this Australian
picture book offers large giggles over its breezy watercolor
illustrations of loopy, Seussian contraptions. "Milli could take a
thing that was a nothing... and make it... a something!" Never
brave enough to show her ingenious creations to other people, Milli
resigns herself to making plain brown shoes in her shoe shop. Then
one day she meets two wandering minstrels, Jack and Cat, who show
her how to abandon her inner censor and dance. Not only do they
teach her the two-step, but the three of them do "the tricky
twisting backward-sliding four-step," and King's (Emily Loves to
Bounce) lighthearted interior and jacket illustrations feature them
cheerfully dancing in sunshine and rain with the style and verve
associated with a 1950s musical. Dancing makes Milli "feel brave
and free" enough to show her marvelous inventions to the world.
King takes a flight of fancy with his visual depictions of what
Milli invents, such as the crazy tuba-like instrument she fashions
out of a telephone, lead pipes and a huge plastic flower, or the
amazing cart she devises for Jack and Cat. Milli is initially
worried about how the townsfolk will react to her art, but her
fears, fortunately, prove unfounded. The barely disguised self-help
theme doesn't dent this book's joie de vivre, which is likely to
delight readers who share any of Milli's artistic leanings. Ages
4-up. (May) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

The characters, brilliantly illustrated, jump out of the pages. A
hardcover treasure for the kids; a delight to read aloud.' Sunshine
Coast Daily Good LivingKing's little people are carefree and
winsome.' ABRNov 2003a magical, delightful story of being honest
with yourself.' Bendigo Advertiser18/10/03

PreS-Gr 3-Milli has a special gift for seeing the artful potential
in ordinary, forgotten objects. She loves to "take a straight piece
of wire and give it a wiggle, or a simple square of cloth and set
it dancing in the wind." However, her talents are hidden as she
spends her days making plain, brown shoes for the other townspeople
who only want sensible things. When two traveling minstrels, Jack
and the Dancing Cat, come into the woman's shop, they offer her
dancing lessons in exchange for new boots. Moving her body to the
"two-step," the "three-step," and the "tricky twisting
backward-sliding four-step" makes Milli feel "brave and free" and
gives her the courage to release her creativity. Soon she is making
"curly-toed shoes covered in stars" and livening up the
neighborhood with musical instruments that make "sounds that had
never been heard before." King's sprightly ink-and-watercolor
illustrations capture the magic of Milli's creations. A charming
story that celebrates imagination and individuality.-Linda Ludke,
London Public Library, Ontario, Canada Copyright 2004 Reed Business
Information.

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